HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 6, 2002OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TRAFFIC COMMISSION
MAY 6, 2002
The meeting of the Traffic Commission was called to order at 7:08 p.m. by Chairperson Ed
Carlson.
I. ROLL CALL
Members Present: Anderson, Carlson, Goodman, Sturdevant, Stumpf
Staff Present: Kathyjean Young, Assistant City Engineer
Bill Roddy, Police Captain
II. APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 3, 2001 MINUTES
Motion by Sturevant, second by Goodman, to approve the minutes of the December 3,
2001 meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
III. OLD BUSINESS
TH
A. REQUEST TO INSTALL YIELD SIGN ON POLK STREET AT 39 AVENUE
Mr. Matt Henry is requesting the Traffic Commission review the decision to deny
th
the request for a yield sign stopping traffic on Polk Street at 39 Avenue. (The
Commission considered this request in April 2000.) The intersection is
uncontrolled. The concern is the speed of the traffic on Polk Street in the vicinity
of the park. Residents including children must walk in the street to get to the park
because sidewalks are not available. There was also a request to install a stop
sign at this intersection in February 2000.
Mr. Henry was present and restated the concern of children forced to walk in the
th
streets because of no sidewalk. Traffic counts for 39 Avenue and Polk Street
were originally taken in February of 2000 and again in April of 2002. The
majority of the traffic on Polk Street was traveling at the posted speed or less.
Staff does not recommend installation of a yield sign for Polk Street. Installation
of a yield sign stopping traffic on Polk Street will have two effects. The traffic on
th
39 Avenue is already traveling fast and those speeds may increase if vehicles are
no longer required to proceed with caution through the uncontrolled intersection
and the yield sign may provide a false sense of security for pedestrians on Polk
th
Street. Staff will review the tree located on the south side of 39 Avenue west of
Polk Street to determine if it falls within the visibility triangle.
No sidewalk on Polk Street is a separate issue. Staff suggested walking young
children along the area behind the curb and gutter as it is not private property.
Official Proceedings
Columbia Heights Traffic Commission
May 6, 2002
Page 2
Mr. Henry requested a copy of the stop sign study by the Institute of Traffic
Engineers. Staff will make a copy available to him.
Motion by Carlson, second by Stumpf to deny the request to install yield signs on
Polk Street. Motion carried unanimously.
IV. OTHER OLD BUSINESS
None.
V. NEW BUSINESS
THTH
A. REQUEST TO MAKE 7 STREET ONE-WAY FROM 40 AVENUE TO
ND
42 AVENUE
th
Mayor Peterson received a suggestion from a resident to make 7 Street a one-
thnd
way street from 40 Avenue to 42 Avenue. The purpose of the one-way
designation is to keep the street passable with the heavy use of on-street parking
surrounding the Islamic Center.
Police Chief Johnson suggested if parking continues to be a problem for the
neighborhood, the residents may want to consider restricting parking to one side
of the street. Staff does not recommend pursuing a one-way designation. Captain
Roddy recommended a Police representative meet with the organization and
th
express concerns with the parking and traffic congestion on 7 Street and work
out some kind of agreement which benefits the neighborhood and the attendees of
the Islamic Center.
Motion by Carlson, second by Sturdevant to direct a Police representative to meet
th
with the Islamic organization to discuss traffic congestion on 7 Street and work
out an agreement which benefits the neighborhood and the Islamic Center.
Motion carried unanimously.
ST
B. REQUEST TO REVISE “PERMIT ONLY PARKING” ON 41 AVENUE
Mary Lou Pribula, of 4141 Quincy Street, a parishioner at Immaculate
Conception Church, is requesting the “Permit Parking Only” be removed on the
st
north side of 41 Avenue from the alley west to Quincy Street. She feels the
restriction is a hardship on the elderly members of the church.
Official Proceedings
Columbia Heights Traffic Commission
May 6, 2002
Page 3
The permit parking was approved by the City Council in conjunction with the
development adjacent to NEI. Any change would have to be approved by the
City Council and re-negotiated with NEI.
Motion by Sturdevant, second by Goodman, to remove permit signs on the north
st
side of 41 Avenue from the alley west to Quincy Street. Motion carried
unanimously.
VI. OTHER NEW BUSINESS
A. None.
VII. REPORTS
A. CITY ENGINEER
TH
1. REQUEST TO REMOVE HANDICAP PARKING SIGN AT 4950 5
STREET
The Public Works Department received a request to remove the handicap
th
parking sign at 4950 5 Street as the sign is no longer required.
2. Commission members were given a Traffic Safety Fundamentals
Handbook published or provided by Mn/DOT.
B. POLICE CHIEF
None.
C. COMMISSIONERS
None.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Sturdevant, second by Anderson, to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
___________________________
Joanne Baker
Traffic Commission Secretary